.African Roots is truly his rootsiest album yet. Like the recent Ranking Joe release for the same label (the two utilize some of the same backing tracks), this one was produced and mixed by dubmaster Ryan Moore, who takes a foundational approach of constructing smoky, slightly murky grooves that skank along unhurried, dropping in bits of echoey instrumentation among the prominent drums and bass and, most importantly, giving Rose's ominous but playful vocals the sort of framing they need. With songs that uplift Mother Africa and lash out against the wicked, Rose conjures up the same sort of cultural stance and razor-sharp edge that marked his early work for Niney the Observer as well as the initial stages of Black Uhuru. In addition to Moore's multi-instrumental backdrops, such noted players as Chinna Smith, Scully Sims, Style Scott, and Dean Fraser chip in, enriching the sound with their musical muscle. Rose's best album to date? I'd vote yes. - Tom Orr

Michael Rose is definitely on a roll. I pegged his previous release African Roots as his best, but Warrior tops it (if only marginally). It's certainly the closest Rose has come has come to capturing the sound of his Black Uhuru days. That may or may not have been his intention, but given the presence of such Uhuru-era players as Sly Dunbar and Daryl Thompson and the prominence of female backing vocals on a few tracks (beautifully rendered by Rochelle Bradshaw), the comparisons are hard to ignore. Similarly, the riddims are reminiscent of a time when reggae was hardening up a bit inna "rockers" stylee while keeping that necessary pulse. Warrior isn't nostalgia, though. It's Rose continuing to grow and develop even as he retains many of the strengths that make him one of reggae's most distinctive artists. ... This is Rose's second full-length album for producer/mixer/multi--instrumentalist Ryan Moore's M Records, and the affiliation continues to be a perfect fit. Great songs, clean but edgy sound, varied arrangements, top-flight musicians, and a singer in peak form; Warrior has all that and more going for it - Tom Orr